Exotic elements exist behind marijuana dispensary pitched in Holyoke

Updated May 17, 2018 at 10:08 AM;Posted May 17, 2018 at 10:05 AM

5/16/18 - HOLYOKE - This is the building at 380R Dwight St. in Holyoke, Massachusetts where a company called Canna Provisions Inc. wants to operate a recreational marijuana dispensary. (MIKE PLAISANCE / THE REPUBLICAN)

HOLYOKE -- One of the shareholders developed resorts in Thailand and the other used to be married to fashion designer Vera Wang.

So besides the pledges of home-delivery of pot and 15 jobs, flashes of exotica sparkle behind the company proposing a recreational marijuana dispensary at 380R Dwight St.

Canna Provisions Inc. consists of shareholders Eugene McCain of West Newton, Massachusetts and Arthur P. Becker of New York City.

As for why Holyoke, McCain said Wednesday in a phone interview: "The simple answer is that Mayor Alex Morse has been such a strong advocate of seeing the unfolding of the cannabis industry. We knew that we'd have a positive reception there."

Other lures were Holyoke's proximity to Interstate 91 and the Massachusetts Turnpike and the "renaissance" occurring with arts facilities like Gateway City Arts on Race Street, he said.

McCain was raised in New York, attended Eaglebrook School, a private boarding school in Deerfield, Massachusetts, and worked in real estate and developing properties in Thailand and Hawaii, he said.

McCain told The Globe he spent a decade in Thailand, establishing Cape Yamu, a luxury residential and hotel development in Phuket and Jindarin Beach Villas, a boutique luxury resort community.

McCain also led the failed push to gain passage of 2016's Question 1, which called for permitting a second slots casino in Massachusetts.

Becker is a friend of McCain's and a real estate developer. He was, indeed, married to Wang ("arguably the most prominent designer of bridal wear in America": biography.com) for 23 years, McCain said. He described Becker as a "passive investor" in the pot dispensary planned here.

McCain owns 80 percent of the Canna Provisions shares and Becker 20 percent. McCain is CEO, president and secretary and Becker treasurer. That's according to the application for a special permit to operate a marijuana dispensary filed with the City Council.

The City Council referred the special permit application to its Ordinance Committee Tuesday at City Hall.

The company would employ about 15 people, working different shifts, and would like to open between Oct. 1 and Jan. 1, McCain said.

What he would like Holyokers to know is the company's plan is to establish a successful business and provide jobs and "be a small driver in helping Holyoke pull itself up again," he said.

Home delivery of the product, renovations to the two-story brick building at 380R Dwight St., enlisting the craftsmanship of artists from the adjacent Canal Gallery and Artist Studios on Dwight Street and installing extensive security measures are features of the Canna Provisions proposal, according to McCain and the special permit application.

Voters in Massachusetts approved the recreational marijuana law in 2016 and permitted medical marijuana facilities in 2012.

Morse, when many officials were silent, was among the most vocal early on touting the jobs and other economic development benefits the city could gain from the industry.